Direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system

ABSTRACT

A direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system includes a networking device having a port, and a direct-attach cable that includes a direct-attach cable connector that is located on an end of the direct-attach cable and that couples the direct-attach cable to the port, and a visual indicator device that is included on the direct-attach cable adjacent to and spaced apart from the direct-attach cable connector. The visual indicator device receives, from the networking device via the port and the direct-attach cable connector, data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port, and provides a visual indication that is based on the first data transmission information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/218,525, filed on Mar. 31, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to providing visual indications of data transmission by information handling system via a direct-attach cable.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

Information handling systems such as, for example, switch devices and other networking devices known in the art, are utilized to transmit data to connected devices. In many situations, it is desirable to provide visual indications of the data transmissions by switch devices, and conventionally switch devices have included one or more Light Emitting Devices (LEDs) adjacent each of their ports, with those LED(s) illuminating to provide visual indications of the data being transmitted via their adjacent port (e.g., visual indications of the characteristics of the link provided via that port, visual indications of characteristics of the data transmission speed, etc.). However, conventional switch devices may also allow direct-attach cables (e.g., passive Direct-Attach Copper (DAC) cables, active DAC cables, Active Optical Cables (AOCs), and/or other direct-attach cables known in the art) to be coupled the ports on the switch device via their direct-attach cable connectors. The connection of direct-attach cables to switch devices can raise issues with regard to the visual indication of data transmission by the switch device.

For example, conventionally, switch devices typically include a plurality of adjacent ports (e.g., the Z9100-ON switch platform available from the DELL® Inc. of Round Rock, Tex., United States includes a 100 GbE switch device with 32 ports, a 50 GbE switch device with 64 ports, a 40 GbE switch device with 32 ports, a 25 GbE switch deice with 128 ports, and a 10 GbE switch device with 128+2 ports that utilizes “breakout” cables.) In most situations, many (if not all) of the ports on the switch device will be connected to server devices, storage systems, and/or other equipment known in the art (e.g., in a rack) via the direct-attach cables discussed above that can obscure visual access to the LEDs adjacent the ports on the switch devices. While cable management techniques can be utilized to limit the obscuring of LEDs adjacent ports on the switch device, it is often the case that even cable management techniques are unable to address the obscuring of all the LEDs on the switch device, and in testing situations such cable management techniques are often not utilized. Furthermore, the direct-attach cable connectors on the direct-attach cables discussed above are provided with integrated release mechanisms that also operate to obstruct the view of the LEDs adjacent their connected port, and include cabling that is thicker than non-direct-attach cables and that operates to obscure the view of the LEDs adjacent the ports on the switch device as well. Finally, a current trend with switch devices is to remove the LEDs discussed above, which eliminates the ability to provide visual indications of the data transmission by the switch device.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a direct-attach cable system that addresses the issues discussed above.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a direct-attach cable includes a first direct-attach cable connector that is located on a first end of the direct-attach cable and that is configured to couple the direct-attach cable to a port on a networking device; and a first visual indicator device that is included on the direct-attach cable adjacent to and spaced apart from the first direct-attach cable connector, wherein the first visual indicator device is configured to: receive, from the networking device via the port and the first direct-attach cable connector when the first direct-attach cable connector is connected to the port on the networking device, first data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port; and provide a visual indication that is based on the first data transmission information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an Information Handling System (IHS).

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a networked system that may utilize the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a networking device that may be provided in the networked system of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4A is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 4B is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5B is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable that may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable that may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8A is a schematic side view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable connector that may be provided on the direct-attach cable of FIG. 6 or 7 .

FIG. 8B is a schematic top view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable connector that may be provided on the direct-attach cable of FIG. 6 or 7 .

FIG. 8C is a schematic front view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable connector that may be provided on the direct-attach cable of FIG. 6 or 7 .

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for providing data transmission visual indications via a direct-attach cable.

FIG. 10A is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIGS. 4A and 4B during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 10B is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C coupled to the networking device of FIG. 10A during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 10C is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C coupled to the networking device of FIG. 10A during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11A is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIGS. A and 5B during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11B is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C coupled to the networking device of FIG. 11A during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11C is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C coupled to the networking device of FIG. 11A during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12A is a schematic front view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C operating during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12B is a schematic front view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C operating during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12C is a schematic front view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C operating during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 12D is a schematic front view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable connector of FIGS. 8A-8C operating during the method of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable that may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable that may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable that may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a direct-attach cable that may be provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for providing data transmission visual indications via a direct-attach cable.

FIG. 18A is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIGS. 4A and 4B during the method of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 18B is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable of FIG. 13 coupled to the networking device of FIG. 18A during the method of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 18C is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable of FIG. 13 coupled to the networking device of FIG. 18A during the method of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 19A is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the networking device of FIGS. 5A and 5B during the method of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 19B is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable of FIG. 13 coupled to the networking device of FIG. 19A during the method of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 19C is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable of FIG. 13 coupled to the networking device of FIG. 19A during the method of FIG. 17 .

FIG. 20 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the direct-attach cable of FIG. 13 coupled to the networking device of FIG. 18A and having its visual indicator device providing a visual indication during the method of FIG. 17

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, calculate, determine, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, communicate, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer (e.g., desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, touchscreen and/or a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.

In one embodiment, IHS 100, FIG. 1 , includes a processor 102, which is connected to a bus 104. Bus 104 serves as a connection between processor 102 and other components of IHS 100. An input device 106 is coupled to processor 102 to provide input to processor 102. Examples of input devices may include keyboards, touchscreens, pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs, and trackpads, and/or a variety of other input devices known in the art. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device 108, which is coupled to processor 102. Examples of mass storage devices may include hard discs, optical disks, magneto-optical discs, solid-state storage devices, and/or a variety of other mass storage devices known in the art. IHS 100 further includes a display 110, which is coupled to processor 102 by a video controller 112. A system memory 114 is coupled to processor 102 to provide the processor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by processor 102. Examples of system memory may include random access memory (RAM) devices such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), solid state memory devices, and/or a variety of other memory devices known in the art. In an embodiment, a chassis 116 houses some or all of the components of IHS 100. It should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and processor 102 to facilitate interconnection between the components and the processor 102.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , an embodiment of a networked system 200 is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the networked system 200 includes a networking device 202. In an embodiment, the networking device 202 may be provided by the IHS 100 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 , and/or may include some or all of the components of the IHS 100, and in the specific examples below is described as being provided by a switch device. However, while illustrated and discussed as being provided by a switch device, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that the networking device provided in the networked system 200 may include other computing devices that may be configured to operate similarly as the networking device 202 discussed below. As also illustrated in FIG. 2 , a transceiver device 204 may be coupled to the networking device 202 via a port on the networking device 202, and may be provided by a variety of transceiver devices that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

The networked system 200 also includes one or more connected devices 204. In an embodiment, the connected device(s) 204 may be provided by the IHS 100 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 , and/or may include some or all of the components of the IHS 100, and in the specific examples below are described as being provided by server devices. However, while illustrated and discussed as being provided by server devices, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that connected device(s) provided in the networked system 200 may include other computing devices (e.g., storage systems) that may be configured to operate similarly as the connected device(s) 204 discussed below.

In the illustrated embodiment, a direct-attach cable 206 couples the networking device 202 to the connected device(s) 204, and includes a direct-attach cable connector 206 a that is connected to the networking device 202, and one or more direct-attach cable connectors 206 b that are connected to the connected device(s) 204. For example, the direct-attach cable may be provided by a passive Direct-Attach Copper (DAC) cable (which may provide a direct connection between the direct-attach cable connectors 206 a and 206 b and may transmit data via copper wire), an active DAC cable (which may provide electronics within the direct-attach cable connectors 206 a and 206 b and may transmit data via copper wire), an Active Optical Cable (AOC) (which may provide electronics and optics within the direct-attach cable connectors 206 a and 206 b and may transmit data via optical fiber), and/or other direct-attach cables that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

As discussed below, in some examples the direct-attach cable 206 may include a single direct-attach cable connector 206 b that couples the networking device 202 to a single connected device 204, while in other examples the direct-attach cable 206 may be a “breakout cable” that includes a plurality of direct-attach cable connectors 206 b that couple the networking device 202 to a plurality of connected devices 204 (e.g., four connected devices in the examples below), and one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how the teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to any of a variety of direct-attach cable configurations while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. However, while a specific networked system 200 has been illustrated and described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure may include a variety of components and component configurations while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a networking device 300 is illustrated that may provide the networking device 202 discussed above with reference to FIG. 2 . As such, the networking device 300 may be provided by the IHS 100 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 and/or may include some or all of the components of the IHS 100, and in the specific examples below is described as a switch device. However, while illustrated and discussed as being provided by a switch device, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that the functionality of the networking device 300 discussed below may be provided by other computing devices that are configured to operate similarly as the networking device 300 discussed below. In the illustrated embodiment, the networking device 300 includes a chassis 302 that houses the components of the networking device 300, only some of which are illustrated and discussed below. For example, the chassis 302 may house a processing system (not illustrated, but which may include the processor 102 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 ) and a memory system (not illustrated, but which may include the memory 114 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 ) that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a networking engine 304 that is configured to perform the functionality of the networking engines and/or networking devices discussed below.

The chassis 302 may also house a storage system (not illustrated, but which may include the storage 108 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1 ) that is coupled to the networking engine 304 (e.g., via a coupling between the storage system and the processing system) and that includes a networking database 306 that is configured to store any of the information utilized by the networking engine 304 discussed below. The chassis 302 may also house a communication system 308 that is coupled to the networking engine 304 (e.g., via a coupling between the communication system 308 and the processing system) and that may be provided by a Network Interface Controller (NIC), wireless communication systems (e.g., BLUETOOTH®, Near Field Communication (NFC) components, WiFi components, etc.), and/or any other communication components that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 , the communication system 308 includes a plurality of port systems 308 a, 308 b, 308 c, and up to 308 d, as well as a plurality of port systems 310 a, 310 b, 310 c, and up to 310 d, discussed in further detail below. However, while a specific networking device 300 has been illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that networking devices (or other devices operating according to the teachings of the present disclosure in a manner similar to that described below for the networking device 300) may include a variety of components and/or component configurations for providing conventional networking device functionality, as well as the functionality discussed below, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a specific embodiment of the networking device 300 discussed above with reference to FIG. 3 is illustrated. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the port systems 308 a-308 d and 310 a-310 d include visual indicator devices along with ports. For example, FIG. 4A illustrate the port system 308 a including a port 400 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 400 and that includes LEDs 402 a, 402 b, 402 c, and 402 d; the port system 308 b including a port 404 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 404 and that includes LEDs 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, and 406 d; the port system 308 c including a port 408 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 408 and that includes LEDs 410 a, 410 b, 410 c, and 410 d; and the port system 308 d including a port 412 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 412 and that includes LEDs 414 a, 414 b, 414 c, and 414 d; with the port systems 308 a-308 d provided in a first/upper row on the networking device 300. FIG. 4A also illustrates the port system 310 a including a port 416 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 416 and that includes LEDs 418 a, 418 b, 418 c, and 418 d; the port system 310 b including a port 420 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 420 and that includes LEDs 422 a, 422 b, 422 c, and 422 d; the port system 310 c including a port 424 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 424 and that includes LEDs 426 a, 426 b, 426 c, and 426 d; and the port system 310 d including a port 428 and a visual indicator device that is located adjacent that port 428 and that includes LEDs 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, and 430 d; with the port systems 310 a-310 d provided in a second/lower row on the networking device 300.

Furthermore, FIG. 4B illustrates how the networking device 300 may include a networking processing system 430 (e.g., a switch Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)) and a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) 432 that are coupled together, and that may provide a portion of the networking engine 304 and/or the communication system 308 discussed above with reference to FIG. 3 . A register 434 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and to the LEDs 402 a-402 d that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 308 a (e.g., via 8 pins on the register 434 coupled to the LEDs 402 a-402 d), and a register 435 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and to the LEDs 406 a-406 d that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 308 b (e.g., via eight pins on the register 435 coupled to the LEDs 406 a-406 d). As will be recognized by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the embodiment illustrated and described with reference to FIG. 4B provides an example a multi-color LED system in which each register 434 and 435 includes two of its pins coupled to each respective LED to enable that LED to illuminate green (via the assertion of the first pin), red (via the assertion of the second pin), and amber (via the assertion of both the first pin and the second pin). However, while a specific multi-color LED system is described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that other LED systems will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 434 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the transmission of data via the port 400 in the port system 308 a to the LEDs 402 a-402 d that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 308 a in order to allow those LEDs 402 a-402 d to provide visual indications associated with those data transmissions (e.g., visual indications of the characteristics of the link provided via that port, visual indications of characteristics of the data transmission speed, etc.), and thus may include any of a variety of conventional port LED components that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. As such, the data transmission information may be configured to indicate the status of a port/physical link between connected devices via the LEDs 402 a-402 d regardless of whether data is currently being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 402 a-402 d may provide a “solid” illumination to indicate a port/physical link is “up” or available”), the status of port/data transmissions between connected devices via the LEDs 402 a-402 d when data is being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 402 a-402 d may provide a “blinking” illumination to indicate data is being transmitted), and as well any other data transmission characteristics that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

Similarly, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 435 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the transmission of data via the port 404 in the port system 308 b to the LEDs 406 a-406 d that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 308 b in order to allow those LEDs 406 a-406 d to provide visual indications associated with those data transmissions (e.g., visual indications of the characteristics of the link provided via that port, visual indications of characteristics of the data transmission speed, etc.), and thus may include any of a variety of conventional port LED components that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. As such, the data transmission information may be configured to indicate the status of a port/physical link between connected devices via the LEDs 406 a-406 d regardless of whether data is currently being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 406 a-406 d may provide a “solid” illumination to indicate a port/physical link is “up” or available”), the status of port/data transmissions between connected devices via the LEDs 406 a-406 d when data is being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 406 a-406 d may provide a “blinking” illumination to indicate data is being transmitted), and as well any other data transmission characteristics that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

In addition, a register 436 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and the port 400 in the port system 308 a (e.g., via eight pins on the register 436 coupled to the port 400), and a register 437 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and the port 404 in the port system 308 b (e.g., via eight pins on the register 437 coupled to the port 404). Similarly as discussed above, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B provides an example a multi-color LED system in which each register 436 and 437 includes two of its pins that are configured to couple to respective LED(s) on a direct-attach cable connector to enable those LED(s) to illuminate green (via the assertion of the first pin), red (via the assertion of the second pin), and amber (via the assertion of both the first pin and the second pin). However, while a specific multi-color LED system is described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that other LED systems will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As discussed below, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 436 may be configured to duplicate data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 400 in the port system 308 a and that is provided via the register 434 to the LEDs 402 a-402 d, and provide that data transmission information via the port 400 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 400, discussed in further detail below. Similarly, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 437 may be configured to duplicate data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 404 in the port system 308 b and that is provided via the register 435 to the LEDs 406 a-406 d, and provide that data transmission information via the port 404 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 404, discussed in further detail below.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, a respective pair of registers that are similar to the registers 434/436 and 435/437 may be provided for each port system on the networking device 300. As such, FIG. 4B illustrates a register 438 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) coupled to the CPLD 432 and to the LEDs 426 a-426 d that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 310 c (e.g., via eight pins on the register 438 coupled to the LEDs 426 a-426 d), and a register 439 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) coupled to the CPLD 432 and to the LEDs 430 a-430 a that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 310 d (e.g., via eight pins on the register 439 coupled to the LEDs 430 a-430 d). As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 438 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the transmission of data via the port 424 in the port system 310 c to the LEDs 426 a-426 d that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 310 c in order to allow those LEDs 426 a-426 d to provide visual indications associated with those data transmissions (e.g., visual indications of the characteristics of the link provided via that port, visual indications of characteristics of the data transmission speed, etc.), and thus may include any of a variety of conventional port LED components that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. As such, the data transmission information may be configured to indicate the status of a port/physical link between connected devices via the LEDs 426 a-426 d regardless of whether data is currently being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 426 a-426 d may provide a “solid” illumination to indicate a port/physical link is “up” or available”), the status of port/data transmissions between connected devices via the LEDs 426 a-426 d when data is being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 426 a-426 d may provide a “blinking” illumination to indicate data is being transmitted), and as well any other data transmission characteristics that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

Similarly, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 439 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the transmission of data via the port 428 in the port system 310 d to the LEDs 430 a-430 d that provide the visual indicator device for the port system 310 d in order to allow those LEDs 430 a-430 d to provide visual indications associated with those data transmissions (e.g., visual indications of the characteristics of the link provided via that port, visual indications of characteristics of the data transmission speed, etc.), and thus may include any of a variety of conventional port LED components that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. As such, the data transmission information may be configured to indicate the status of a port/physical link between connected devices via the LEDs 430 a-430 d regardless of whether data is currently being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 430 a-430 d may provide a “solid” illumination to indicate a port/physical link is “up” or available”), the status of port/data transmissions between connected devices via the LEDs 430 a-430 d when data is being transmitted between those connected devices (e.g., the LEDs 430 a-430 d may provide a “blinking” illumination to indicate data is being transmitted), and as well any other data transmission characteristics that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

In addition, a register 440 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and the port 424 in the port system 310 c (e.g., via eight pins on the register 440 coupled to the port 424), and a register 441 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and the port 428 in the port system 310 d (e.g., via eight pins on the register 440 coupled to the port 428). As discussed below, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 440 may be configured to duplicate data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 424 in the port system 310 c and that is provided via the register 438 to the LEDs 426 a-426 d, and provide that data transmission information via the port 424 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 424, discussed in further detail below. Similarly, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 441 may be configured to duplicate data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 428 in the port system 310 d and that is provided via the register 439 to the LEDs 430 a-430 d, and provide that data transmission information via the port 428 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 428, discussed in further detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a specific embodiment of the networking device 300 discussed above with reference to FIG. 3 is illustrated. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the port systems 308 a-308 d and 310 a-310 d include ports but no visual indicator devices. For example, FIG. 5A illustrate the port system 308 a including a port 500, the port system 308 b including a port 502, the port system 308 c including a port 504, and the port system 308 d including a port 506, with the port systems 308 a-308 d provided in a first/upper row on the networking device 300. FIG. 5A also illustrates the port system 310 a including a port 508, the port system 310 b including a port 510, the port system 310 c including a port 512, and the port system 310 d including a port 514, with the port systems 310 a-310 d provided in a second/lower row on the networking device 300.

Furthermore, FIG. 5B illustrates how the networking device 300 may include a networking processing system 516 (e.g., a switch Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)) and a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) 518 that are coupled together, and that may provide a portion of the networking engine 304 and/or the communication system 308 discussed above with reference to FIG. 3 . A register 520 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and to the port 500 in the port system 308 a (e.g., via eight pins on the register 520 coupled to the port 500), and a register 521 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) is coupled to the CPLD 432 and the port 502 in the port system 308 b (e.g., via eight pins on the register 521 coupled to the port 500). As will be recognized by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5B provides an example a multi-color LED system in which each register 520 and 521 includes two of its pins that are configured to couple to a respective LED(s) on a direct-attach cable connector to enable those LED(s) to illuminate green (via the assertion of the first pin), red (via the assertion of the second pin), and amber (via the assertion of both the first pin and the second pin). However, while a specific multi-color LED system is described, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that other LED systems will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

As discussed below, the networking processing system 516, the CPLD 518, and/or the register 520 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 500 in the port system 308 a, and provide that data transmission information via the port 500 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 500, discussed in further detail below. Similarly, the networking processing system 516, the CPLD 518, and/or the register 521 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 502 in the port system 308 b, and provide that data transmission information via the port 502 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 502, discussed in further detail below.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, a respective register that is similar to the registers 520 or 521 may be provided for each port system on the networking device 300. As such, FIG. 5B illustrates a register 522 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) coupled to the CPLD 432 and the port 512 in the port system 310 c (e.g., via eight pins on the register 522 coupled to the port 512), and a register 522 (e.g., a serial-to-parallel shift register) coupled to the CPLD 432 and the port 514 in the port system 310 d (e.g., via eight pins on the register 522 coupled to the port 514). As discussed below, the networking processing system 516, the CPLD 518, and/or the register 522 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 512 in the port system 310 b, and provide that data transmission information via the port 512 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 512, discussed in further detail below. Similarly, the networking processing system 516, the CPLD 518, and/or the register 523 may be configured to generate and transmit data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port 514 in the port system 310 d, and provide that data transmission information via the port 514 to a direct-attach cable connector that is coupled to the port 514, discussed in further detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , an embodiment of a direct-attach cable 600 is illustrated that may provide the direct-attach cable 206 discussed above with reference to FIG. 2 . As such, the direct-attach cable 600 may be provided by a passive DAC cable, an active DAC cable, an AOC, and/or any other direct-attach cable that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the direct-attach cable 600 includes direct-attach cabling 602 having a first direct-attach cable connector 604 located on a first end of the direct-attach cabling 602, and a second direct-attach cable connector 606 located on a second end of the direct-attach cabling 602 that is opposite the first end. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the direct-attach cable 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 provides an example of a direct-attach cable that includes a single direct-attach cable connector 606 that may be utilized to couple the networking device 202 to a single connected device 204.

Referring now to FIG. 7 , an embodiment of a direct-attach cable 700 is illustrated that may provide the direct-attach cable 206 discussed above with reference to FIG. 2 . As such, the direct-attach cable 700 may be provided by a passive DAC cable, an active DAC cable, an AOC, and/or any other direct-attach cable that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the direct-attach cable 700 includes direct-attach cabling 702 including a breakout section 702 a, a first direct-attach cable connector 704 located on a first end of the direct-attach cabling 702, and a plurality of second direct-attach cable connectors 706 a, 706 b, 706 c, and 706 d located on respective second ends of the direct-attach cabling 702 that are opposite the first end and that are provided on respective breakout cabling included in the breakout section 702 a of the direct-attach cabling 702. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the direct-attach cable 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 provides an example of a direct-attach cable that may be a “breakout cable” that includes a plurality of direct-attach cable connectors that may be utilized to couple the networking device 202 to a plurality of connected devices 204 (e.g., four connected devices in the examples below). However, while two specific direct-attach cables are described herein, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how other direct-attach cables may benefit from the teachings of the present disclosure and thus will fall within its scope as well.

With reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, an embodiment of a direct-attach cable connector system 800 is illustrated that is discussed as providing the direct-attach cable connectors 206 a, 604, and/or 704 discussed above, but that one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate may provide the direct-attach cable connectors 206 b, 606, 706 a, 706 b, 706 c, and/or 706 c in some embodiments as well. In the illustrated embodiment, the direct-attach cable connector system 800 includes direct-attach cabling 802, and a direct-attach cable connector 804 that is located on an end of that direct-attach cabling 802. As illustrated, the direct-attach cable connector 804 includes a top surface 804 a, a bottom surface 804 b that is located opposite the direct-attach cable connector 804 from the top surface 804 a, a front surface 804 c that extends between the top surface 804 a and the bottom surface 804 b, and a pair of side surface 804 d and 804 e that are located opposite the direct-attach cable connector 804 from each other and that each extend between the top surface 804 a, the bottom surface 804 b, and the front surface 804 c. While not illustrated or described in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that the front surface 804 c of the direct-attach cable connector 804 may include a variety of connector components that are configured to connect to the ports and/or other networking device coupling subsystems known in the art.

In some embodiments, the direct-attach cable connector system 800 may provide a plurality of visual indicator devices on the direct-attach cable connector 804. In the examples illustrated and described below, a visual indicator device 806 is included on the top surface 804 a of the direct-attach cable connector 804, a visual indicator device 808 a/808 b is included on the side surfaces 806 d and 806 e of the direct-attach cable connector 804, and a visual indicator device 810 is included on the bottom surface 804 b of the direct-attach cable connector 804. In the specific examples provided herein, each of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 provide four LEDs (i.e., with the indicator device 806 providing four adjacent LEDs on the top surface 804 a of the direct-attach cable connector 804, the indicator device 808 a/808 b providing two adjacent LEDs on the side surface 804 d of the direct-attach cable connector 804 and two adjacent LEDs on the side surface 804 e of the direct-attach cable connector 804, and the indicator device 810 providing four adjacent LEDs on the bottom surface 804 c of the direct-attach cable connector 804. However, while each indicator device 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connector 804 is illustrated and discussed as including four LEDs, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that different types and numbers of visual indicators will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

While not illustrated in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that each of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 may include connections, couplings, wiring, traces, and/or other subsystems that one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure would recognize as coupling those visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 to the direct-attach cable connector 804 in a manner that allows them to receive the data transmission information transmitted by the networking device 202/300 via its ports as discussed below. Furthermore, while multiple visual indicator devices are illustrated and described as being included on the direct-attach cable connector 804, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that the direct-attach cable connector 804 may include only one of the visual indicator devices illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C, only two the visual indicator devices illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C, or more than the three visual indicator devices illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C. For example, the inventors of the present disclosure have determined that many of the benefits of the direct-attach cable data transmission indicator system described herein may be realized utilizing only the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C, although embodiments that utilize only the visual indicator device 806 or 810, or embodiments that utilize the two of the three visual indicator devices illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Thus, while a specific embodiment of a direct-attach cable connector system 800 is illustrated and described, a wide variety of different components and/or component configurations for the direct-attach cable connector system 800 are envisioned as falling within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Referring now to FIG. 9 , an embodiment of a method 900 for providing data transmission visual indications via a direct-attach cable is illustrated. As discussed below, the systems and methods of the present disclosure provide a direct-attach cable connector on a direct-attach cable that includes one or more visual indicator devices that are visible when the direct-attach cable connector is coupled to a port, which allows the visual indicator device(s) to receive data transmission information via that port and provide corresponding visual indications of data transmission via that port. For example, the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system includes a networking device having a port. A direct-attach cable includes a direct-attach cable connector that is located on an end of the direct-attach cable and that couples the direct-attach cable to the port. A visual indicator device is included on the direct-attach cable connector and is configured to receive data transmission information from the networking device via the port and the direct-attach cable connector, with the data transmission information associated with the transmission of data via the port. The visual indicator device then provides a visual indication that is based on the data transmission information. As such, in situations where the networking device does not provide visual indicator device(s) adjacent its port, or when the visual indicator device(s) adjacent ports on the networking device are obscured by direct-attach cable(s) or other visual obstructions, a user will still be able to view the visual indications provided by the visual indicator device(s) on the direct-attach cable connector.

The method 900 begins at block 902 where a direct-attach cable is coupled to a networking device and connected device(s). With reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, in an embodiment of block 902, a direct-attach cable connector 1000 on a first direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 400 in the port system 308 a, a direct-attach cable connector 1002 on a second direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 404 in the port system 308 b, a direct-attach cable connector 1004 on a third direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 416 in the port system 310 a, and a direct-attach cable connector 1006 on a fourth direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 420 in the port system 310 b. As such, FIGS. 10B and 10C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 804/1000 included on the first direct-attach cable connected to the port 400 in the port system 308 a, FIGS. 10B and 10C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 804/1002 included on the second direct-attach cable connected to the port 404 in the port system 308 b, FIG. 10C illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 804/1004 included on the third direct-attach cable connected to the port 416 on the port system 310 a, and FIG. 10C illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 804/1006 included on the fourth direct-attach cable connected to the port 420 on the port system 310 b.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, FIG. 10C illustrates how the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1000/1002 included on the first and second direct-attach cables connect to the ports 400 and 404, respectively, on the ports systems 308 a and 308 b, respectively, in a first orientation, and how the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1004/1006 included on the third and fourth direct-attach cables connect to the ports 416 and 420, respectively, on the port systems 310 a and 310 b, respectively, in a second orientation that is inverted relative to the first orientation. However, while specific connection orientations are provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that a variety of direct-attach cable connector orientations will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Furthermore, FIG. 10C illustrates how the direct-attach cabling 802 on the first, second, third, and fourth direct-attach cables may be routed in a manner that obscures at least a portion of the visual indicator devices included in the port systems 308 a, 308 b, 310 a, and 310 b (e.g., the LEDs 402 a-402 d, 406 a-406 d, 418 a-418 d, and 422 a-422 d in the illustrated example), while the visual indicator devices 808 a/808 b and 810 on each of the direct-attach cable connectors 804 are visible. However, while a specific direct-attach cabling routing situation is illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that direct-attach cabling may be routed in a variety of manners that may obscure at least a portion of the visual indicator devices included in the port systems 308 a, 308 b, 310 a, and 310 b while at least one of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on each of the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1000/1002/1004/1006 is visible.

While not illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the direct-attach cable connector 206 b, 606, or 706 a-706 d on each direct-attach cable 206, 600, or 700, respectively, may then be connected to a connected device 204. For example, when the direct-attach cable 600 is utilized at block 902, the direct-attach cable connector 606 may be connected to a single connected device 204. However, in another example where the direct-attach cable 700 is utilized at block 902, one or more of the direct-attach cable connectors 706 a-706 d may be connected to respective connected devices 204. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the coupling of the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 may be followed by a variety of connection/link establishment operations that allow for the transmission of data between the networking device and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables.

With reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, in an embodiment of block 902, a direct-attach cable connector 1100 on a first direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 500 in the port system 308 a, a direct-attach cable connector 1102 on a second direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 502 in the port system 308 b, a direct-attach cable connector 1104 and a third direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 508 in the port system 310 a, and a direct-attach cable connector 1106 on a fourth direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 510 in the port system 310 b. As such, FIGS. 11B and 11C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 804/1100 included on the first direct-attach cable connected to the port 500 on the port system 308 a, FIGS. 11B and 11C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 804/1102 included on the second direct-attach cable connected to the port 502 on the port system 308 b, FIG. 11C illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 804/1104 included on the third direct-attach cable connected to the port 508 on the port system 310 a, and FIG. 11D illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 804/1106 included on the fourth direct-attach cable connected to the port 510 on the port system 310 b.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, FIG. 11C illustrates how the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1100/1102 included on the first and second direct-attach cables connect to the ports 500 and 502, respectively, on the port systems 308 a and 308 b, respectively, in a first orientation, and how the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1104/1106 included on the third and fourth direct-attach cables connect to the ports 508 and 510, respectively, on the ports systems 310 a and 310 b, respectively, in a second orientation that is inverted relative to the first orientation. However, while specific connection orientations are provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that a variety of direct-attach cable connector orientations will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Furthermore, FIG. 11C illustrates how the direct-attach cabling 802 on the first, second, third, and fourth direct-attach cables may be routed in a manner that leaves the visual indicator devices 808 a/808 b and 810 on each of the direct-attach cable connectors 804 visible. However, while a specific direct-attach cabling routing situation is illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that direct-attach cabling may be routed in a variety of manners that leave at least one of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on each of the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1100/1102/1104/1106 visible.

While not illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the direct-attach cable connector 206 b, 606, or 706 a-706 d on each direct-attach cable 206, 600, or 700, respectively, may then be connected to a connected device 204. For example, when the direct-attach cable 600 is utilized at block 902, the direct-attach cable connector 606 may be connected to a single connected device 204. However, in another example where the direct-attach cable 700 is utilized at block 902, one or more of the direct-attach cable connectors 706 a-706 d may be connected to respective connected devices 204. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the coupling of the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 may be followed by a variety of connection/link establishment operations that allow for the transmission of data between the networking device and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables.

The method 900 then proceeds to block 904 where visual indicator device(s) on a direct-attach cable connector on the direct-attach cable receives data transmission information from the networking device. In embodiments of block 904 like those illustrated in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, the establishment of the links between the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables will result in the networking engine 304 in the networking devices 202/300 generating and transmitting data transmission information. For example, with reference back to FIG. 4B, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 434 may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 400 to the visual indicator device in the port system 308 a, which one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize is configured to cause one or more of the LEDs 402 a-402 d in the port system 308 a to illuminate based on that data transmission information to provide a visual indication of that data transmission. In addition, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 436 may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit that data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 400 through that port 400 to the connected direct-attach cable connector 804/1000 on the first direct-attach cable. As such, the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1000 on the first direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 400.

Similarly, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 435 may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 404 to the visual indicator device in the port system 308 b, which one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize is configured to cause one or more of the LEDs 406 a-406 d in the port system 308 b to illuminate based on that data transmission information to provide a visual indication of that data transmission. In addition, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 437 may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit that data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 404 through that port 404 to the connected direct-attach cable connector 804/1002 on the second direct-attach cable. As such, the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1002 on the second direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 404.

While not described in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or registers may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the ports 416 and 420 to the visual indicator devices in the port systems 310 a and 310 b to cause one or more of the LEDs 418 a-418 d in the port system 310 a and one or more of the LEDs 422 a-422 d in the port system 310 b to illuminate based on that data transmission information to provide a visual indication of that data transmission, and the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or registers may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit that data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the ports 416 and 420 through those ports 416 and 420 to their connected direct-attach cable connectors 804/1004/1006 on the third and fourth direct-attach cables. As such, the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connector 804/1004 on the third direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 416, and the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connector 804/1006 on the fourth direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 420.

Similarly, in embodiments of block 904 like those illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, the establishment of the links between the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables will result in the networking engine 304 in the networking devices 202/300 generating and transmitting data transmission information. For example, with reference back to FIG. 5B, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 520 may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 500 through that port 500 to the connected direct-attach cable connector 804/1100 on the first direct-attach cable. As such, the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connector 804/1100 on the first direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 500. Similarly as well, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 521 may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 502 through that port 502 to the connected direct-attach cable connector 804/1102 on the second direct-attach cable. As such, the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connector 804/1102 on the second direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 502.

While not described in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or registers may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the ports 508 and 510 through those ports 508 and 510 to their connected direct-attach cable connectors 804/1104/1106 on the third and fourth direct-attach cables. As such, the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connector 804/1104 on the third direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 508, and the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on the direct-attach cable connector 804/1106 on the fourth direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 510.

The method 900 then proceeds to block 906 where the visual indicator device(s) on the direct-attach cable connector on the direct-attach cable provide a visual indication based on the data transmission information. In an embodiment, at block 906, the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 receiving the data transmission information at block 904 will operate to provide a visual indication based on that data transmission information. In the examples provided below, each of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 provides the same visual indications in order to provide for redundant visual indications, at least one of which should be visible in any direct-attach cabling routing situation. However, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how different visual indicator devices may be configured to provide different visual indications while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With reference to FIG. 12A, an embodiment of visual indications provided by the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on a direct-attach cable connector 804 is illustrated. In this example, the visual indicator device 806 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1200 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 806), a second visual indication 1200 b (e.g., provided by illuminating a second LED in the visual indicator device 806), a third visual indication 1200 c (e.g., provided by illuminating a third LED in the visual indicator device 806), and a fourth visual indication 1200 d (e.g., provided by illuminating a fourth LED in the visual indicator device 806). Furthermore, the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1202 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 808 a), a second visual indication 1202 b (e.g., provided by illuminating a second LED in the visual indicator device 808 a), a third visual indication 1202 c (e.g., provided by illuminating a third LED in the visual indicator device 808 b), and a fourth visual indication 1202 d (e.g., provided by illuminating a fourth LED in the visual indicator device 808 b). Further still, the visual indicator device 810 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1204 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 810), a second visual indication 1204 b (e.g., provided by illuminating a second LED in the visual indicator device 810), a third visual indication 1204 c (e.g., provided by illuminating a third LED in the visual indicator device 810), and a fourth visual indication 1204 d (e.g., provided by illuminating a fourth LED in the visual indicator device 810).

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, any of the visual indications provided by the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 may be provided in different colors (e.g., green, red, amber, blue, etc.) in order to indicate different data transmission information. For example, the visual indications 1200 a-1200 d provided by the visual indicator device 806, the visual indications 1202 a-1202 d provided by the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b, and the visual indications 1204 a-1204 d provided by the visual indicator device 810, may each provide an indication that the connected port is operating at its maximum speed (e.g., 100 GbE) when those indications are green, may provide an indication that the connected port has negotiated to operate at a speed that is lower than its maximum speed when those indications are amber, and may provide an indication that the connected port is not operating when those indications are red. As such, only one of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 need be visible to a user to visually indicate data transmission information to a user. However, while a few examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that visual indications may be defined and provided in any manner while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With reference to FIG. 12B, another embodiment of visual indications provided by the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on a direct-attach cable connector 804 is illustrated. In this example, the visual indicator device 806 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1206 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 806), and a second visual indication 1206 b (e.g., provided by illuminating a second LED in the visual indicator device 806). Furthermore, the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1208 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 808 a), and a second visual indication 1208 b (e.g., provided by illuminating a second LED in the visual indicator device 808 a). Further still, the visual indicator device 810 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1210 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 810), and a second visual indication 1210 b (e.g., provided by illuminating a second LED in the visual indicator device 810).

In a specific example, the visual indications 1206 a and 1206 b provided by the visual indicator device 806, the visual indications 1208 a and 1208 b provided by the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b, and the visual indications 1210 a and 1210 b provided by the visual indicator device 810, may each provide an indication that the connected port is transmitting data via two data transmission lanes/logical ports (e.g., to connected devices 206 connected to the direct-attach cable connectors 706 a and 706 b on the direct-attach cable 700)) and not transmitting data via two data transmission lanes/logical ports. One of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how this example illustrates how the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure supports “breakout” cable embodiments where a single physical port on the networking device provides four logical interfaces (e.g., at speeds of 4×10 GbE, 4×25 GbE, etc.). As such, only one of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 need be visible to a user to visually indicate data transmission information to a user. However, while a few examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that visual indications may be defined and provided in any manner while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With reference to FIG. 12C, another embodiment of visual indications provided by the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on a direct-attach cable connector 804 is illustrated. In this example, the visual indicator device 806 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1212 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 806). Furthermore, the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1214 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 808 a). Further still, the visual indicator device 810 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1216 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 810).

In a specific example, the visual indication 1212 a provided by the visual indicator device 806, the visual indication 1214 a provided by the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b, and the visual indication 1216 a provided by the visual indicator device 810, may each provide an indication that the connected port is transmitting data via a single data transmission lane/logical port (e.g., to a connected device 204 connected to the direct-attach cable connector 706 a on the direct-attach cable 700)) and not transmitting data via three data transmission lanes/logical ports. One of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how this example illustrates how the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure supports “breakout” cable embodiments where a single physical port on the networking device provides four logical interfaces (e.g., at speeds of 4×10 GbE, 4×25 GbE, etc.). As such, only one of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 need be visible to a user to visually indicate data transmission information to a user. However, while a few examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that visual indications may be defined and provided in any manner while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

With reference to FIG. 12D, another embodiment of visual indications provided by the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 on a direct-attach cable connector 804 is illustrated. In this example, the visual indicator device 806 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1218 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 806), and a third visual indication 1218 c (e.g., provided by illuminating a third LED in the visual indicator device 806). Furthermore, the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1220 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 808 a), and a third visual indication 1220 c (e.g., provided by illuminating a third LED in the visual indicator device 808 b). Further still, the visual indicator device 810 is providing a visual indication that includes a first visual indication 1222 a (e.g., provided by illuminating a first LED in the visual indicator device 810), and a third visual indication 1222 c (e.g., provided by illuminating a third LED in the visual indicator device 810).

In a specific example, the visual indications 1218 a and 1218 c provided by the visual indicator device 806, the visual indications 1220 a and 1220 c provided by the visual indicator device 808 a/808 b, and the visual indications 1222 a and 1222 c provided by the visual indicator device 810, may each provide an indication that the connected port is transmitting data via two data transmission lanes/logical ports (e.g., to connected devices 204 connected to the direct-attach cable connectors 706 a and 706 c on the direct-attach cable 700)) and not transmitting data via two data transmission lanes/logical ports. One of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how this example illustrates how the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure supports “breakout” cable embodiments where a single physical port on the networking device provides four logical interfaces (e.g., at speeds of 4×10 GbE, 4×25 GbE, etc.). As such, only one of the visual indicator devices 806, 808 a/808 b, and 810 need be visible to a user to visually indicate data transmission information to a user. However, while a few examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that visual indications may be defined and provided in any manner while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

The inventors of the present disclosure have developed a transceiver device data transmission visual indicator system that is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/147,269, filed on Jan. 12, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. That transceiver device data transmission visual indicator system provides a transceiver device with visual indicator devices that are configured to provide visual indications based on data transmission information received via the port to which that transceiver device is connected, and one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure may be coordinated with that transceiver device data transmission visual indicator system in order to provide any of a variety of visual indication while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Thus, systems and methods have been described that provide a DAC cable connector on a DAC cable that includes one or more LEDs that are visible when the DAC cable connector is coupled to a switch port via a transceiver device, which allows the LED(s) to receive data transmission information via that switch port and provide corresponding visual indications of data transmission via that switch port. For example, the DAC cable data transmission LED system includes a switch device having a switch port. A DAC cable includes a DAC cable connector that is located on an end of the DAC cable and that couples the DAC cable to the switch port. A plurality of LEDs are included on the DAC cable connector and are configured to receive data transmission information from the switch device via the switch port and the DAC cable connector, with the data transmission information associated with the transmission of data via the switch port. The LEDs then illuminate based on the data transmission information. As such, in situations where the switch device does not provide LED(s) adjacent its switch port, or when the LED(s) adjacent switch ports on the switch device are obscured by DAC cable(s), a user will still be able to view the visual indications provided by the LEDs(s) on the DAC cable connector.

The inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that, while the teachings of the present disclosure discussed above solve several issues associated with the use of conventional port visual indicators provided adjacent ports on networking devices, in some situations the direct-attach cable connector visual indicator device described herein may be obscured as well. For example, some experimental embodiments found that in densely cabled switch devices, direct-attach cables may be routed in a manner that obscures all of the direct-attach cable connector visual indicator devices for a particular direct-attach cable connector/port connection, or at least obscures all of the direct-attach cable connector visual indicator devices visible to a user based on their current viewing angle to a particular direct-attach cable connector/port connection. As such, the inventors have developed the systems and methods described below, which have been found to remedy those direct-attach cable connector visual indicator device issues by providing visual indicator device on the direct-attach cabling of the direct-attach cable, spaced apart from the direct-attach cable connector. For example, the inventors of the present disclosure have found that, by providing the visual indicator device on the direct-attach cabling of the direct-attach cable and between the direct-attach cable connector and an “initial-bend portion” of the direct-attach cabling, the visual indicator devices of the present disclosure extend from the ports to which their adjacent direct-attach cable connectors are connected in a manner that allows other direct-attach cables to be routed without obscuring those visual indicator devices.

Referring now to FIG. 13 , an embodiment of a direct-attach cable 1300 is illustrated that may provide the direct-attach cable 206 discussed above with reference to FIG. 2 . As such, the direct-attach cable 1300 may be provided by a passive DAC cable, an active DAC cable, an AOC, and/or any other direct-attach cable that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the direct-attach cable 1300 includes direct-attach cabling 1302 having a first direct-attach cable connector 1304 located on a first end 1302 a of the direct-attach cabling 1302, and a second direct-attach cable connector 1306 located on a second end 1302 b of the direct-attach cabling 1302 that is opposite the first end 1302 a. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the direct-attach cable 1300 illustrated in FIG. 13 provides an example of a direct-attach cable that includes a single direct-attach cable connector 1306 that may be utilized to couple the networking device 202 to a single connected device 204.

In the illustrated embodiment, an “initial-bend” portion 1302 c of the direct attach cabling 1302 is located adjacent to and spaced apart from the first direct-attach cable connector 1304/first end 1302 a of the direct-attach cabling 1302, and an “initial-bend” portion 1302 d of the direct-attach cabling 1302 is located adjacent to and spaced apart from the second direct-attach cable connector 1306/second end 1302 b of the direct-attach cabling 1302. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the “initial bend” portions 1302 c and 1302 d of the direct-attach cabling 1302 may provide the portions of the direct-attach cable 1300 adjacent its connection to devices where the direct-attach cabling 1302 bends when routing that direct-attach cable 1300, and thus may vary depending on the thickness of the direct-attach cabling 1302, a “safe” bending radius of the direct-attach cabling 1302 (e.g., a bending radius that will not damage the direct-attach cabling 1302 when repeatedly performed), and/or other cabling “initial bend” portion factors that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

As illustrated, the direct-attach cabling 1302 may include a plurality of visual indicator devices. In the examples illustrated in FIG. 13 , a visual indicator device 1308 is included on the direct-attach cabling 1302 between the first direct-attach cable connector 1304/first end 1302 a of the direct-attach cabling 1302 and the “initial bend” portion 1302 c of the direct-attach cabling 1302, and a visual indicator device 1310 is included on the direct-attach cabling 1302 between the second direct-attach cable connector 1306/second end 1302 b of the direct-attach cabling 1302 and the “initial bend” portion 1302 d of the direct-attach cabling 1302. However, while the visual indicator devices 1308 and 1310 are illustrated and described as each being located between a direct-attach cable connector/end of the direct-attach cabling and a corresponding/adjacent “initial bend” portion of that direct-attach cabling on opposite sides of the direct-attach cabling, embodiments in which one or more of the visual indicator devices are located opposite the “initial bend” portion of the direct-attach cabling from its corresponding/adjacent direct-attach cable connector/end of the direct-attach cabling may provide benefits similar to those discussed below and thus are envisioned as falling within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

In the specific examples provided herein, each of the visual indicator devices 1308 and 1310 provide a single Light Emitting Device (LED) that extends around a circumference of the direct-attach cabling 1302, which may be provided using any of a variety of LED technologies that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. While not illustrated in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize that each of the visual indicator devices 1308 and 1310 may include connections, couplings, wiring, traces, and/or other subsystems that one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure would recognize as coupling those visual indicator devices 1308 and 1310 to the first direct-attach cable connector 1304 and the second direct-attach cable connector 1306, respectively, in a manner that allows them to receive the data transmission information transmitted by the networking device 202/300 via its ports as discussed below.

However, while each visual indicator device 1308 and 1310 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 is illustrated and discussed as including a circumferential LED, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that different types of visual indicators will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. For example, FIG. 14 illustrates a direct-attach cable 1400 that is substantially similar to the direct-attach cable 1300 discussed above with reference to FIG. 13 , and thus is illustrated with the same element numbers for similar features. However, the single circumferential LED visual indicator devices 1308 and 1310 on the direct-attach cable 1300 have been replaced by a visual indicator device 1402 on the direct-attach cable 1400 that is included on the direct-attach cabling 1302 between the first direct-attach cable connector 1304/first end 1302 a of the direct-attach cabling 1302 and the “initial bend” portion 1302 c of the direct-attach cabling 1302, and a visual indicator device 1404 is included on the direct-attach cabling 1302 between the second direct-attach cable connector 1306/second end 1302 b of the direct-attach cabling 1302 and the “initial bend” portion 1302 d of the direct-attach cabling 1302. In the illustrated embodiment, the visual indicator devices 1402 and 1404 are provided by elongated light emitting “pads” that extend along a length of the direct-attach cabling 1302 and that may be flush with the outer surface of the direct-attach cabling 1302 in some embodiments.

Furthermore, while each direct-attach cable 1300 and 1400 is illustrated and described as including only a single LED for each visual indicator device (e.g., the visual indicator devices 1308 and 1310 on the direct-attach cable 1300, and the visual indicator devices 1402 and 1404 on the direct-attach cable 1400), one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that different numbers of visual indicators may be provided by any visual indicator device while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well. For example, FIG. 15 illustrates a direct-attach cable 1500 that is substantially similar to the direct-attach cable 1300 discussed above with reference to FIG. 13 , and thus is illustrated with the same element numbers for similar features. However, the single circumferential LED visual indicator devices 1308 and 1310 on the direct-attach cable 1300 have been replaced by a multiple circumferential LED visual indicator device 1502 on the direct-attach cable 1500 that is included on the direct-attach cabling 1302 between the first direct-attach cable connector 1304/first end 1302 a of the direct-attach cabling 1302 and the “initial bend” portion 1302 c of the direct-attach cabling 1302, and a multiple circumferential LED visual indicator device 1504 on the direct-attach cable 1500 that is included on the direct-attach cabling 1302 between the second direct-attach cable connector 1306/second end 1302 b of the direct-attach cabling 1302 and the “initial bend” portion 1302 d of the direct-attach cabling 1302.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the single circumferential LEDs provided by the visual indicator device 1308 and 1310 on the direct-attach cable 1300 may each be configured to indicate port status (e.g., “up at full speed”, “up at limited speed”, “down”, etc.) for a connected port, while the multiple circumferential LEDs provided by the visual indicator devices 1502 and 1504 on the direct-attach cable 1500 may each be configured to indicate both port status and port errors (e.g., Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) errors, checksum errors, etc.). Furthermore, additional visual indicators may be provided with the visual indicator devices 1502 and 1504 to provide visual indications of any of a variety of information that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure.

Furthermore, while multiple different embodiments of “single ended” direct-attach cables 1300, 1400, and 1500 (i.e., with a single direct-attach cable connector on each end) are illustrated and described above, the use of the visual indicator devices directly on the direct-attach cabling of other types of direct-attach cables is envisioned as falling within the scope of the present disclosure as well. For example, referring now to FIG. 16 , an embodiment of a direct-attach cable 1600 is illustrated that may provide the direct-attach cable 206 discussed above with reference to FIG. 2 , and/or the direct-attach cable 700 discussed above with reference to FIG. 7 . As such, the direct-attach cable 1600 may be provided by a passive DAC cable, an active DAC cable, an AOC, and/or any other direct-attach cable that would be apparent to one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the direct-attach cable 1600 includes direct-attach cabling 1602, a first direct-attach cable connector 1604 located on a first end 1602 a of the direct-attach cabling 1602, and a multiple circumferential LED visual indicator device 1606 on the direct-attach cable 1600 that is included on the direct-attach cabling 1602 between the first direct-attach cable connector 1604/first end 1602 a of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and an “initial bend” portion 1602 b of the direct-attach cabling 1602.

In the illustrated embodiment, the direct-attach cable 1600 also includes a breakout portion 1608 (similar to the breakout portion 702 a of the direct-attach cable 700 discussed above with reference to FIG. 7 ), with a second direct-attach cable connector 1610 located on a second end 1602 c of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and a single circumferential LED visual indicator device 1612 included on the direct-attach cabling 1602 between the second direct-attach cable connector 1610/second end 1602 c of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and an “initial bend” portion 1602 d of the direct-attach cabling 1602, a third direct-attach cable connector 1614 located on a third end 1602 e of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and a single circumferential LED visual indicator device 1616 included on the direct-attach cabling 1602 between the third direct-attach cable connector 1614/third end 1602 e of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and an “initial bend” portion 1602 f of the direct-attach cabling 1602, a fourth direct-attach cable connector 1618 located on a fourth end 1602 g of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and a single circumferential LED visual indicator device 1620 included on the direct-attach cabling 1602 between the fourth direct-attach cable connector 1618/fourth end 1602 g of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and an “initial bend” portion 1602 h of the direct-attach cabling 1602, and a fifth direct-attach cable connector 1622 located on a fifth end 1602 i of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and a single circumferential LED visual indicator device 1624 included on the direct-attach cabling 1602 between the fifth direct-attach cable connector 1622/fifth end 1602 i of the direct-attach cabling 1602 and an “initial bend” portion 1602 j of the direct-attach cabling 1602.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the direct-attach cable 1600 illustrated in FIG. 16 provides an example of a direct-attach cable that may be a “breakout cable” that includes a plurality of direct-attach cable connectors that may be utilized to couple the networking device 202 to a plurality of connected devices 204 (e.g., four connected devices in the examples provided herein). However, while two specific direct-attach cable types having particular types and numbers of visual indicator devices on their direct-attach cabling are described herein, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how other direct-attach cables may benefit from different types and numbers of visual indicator devices provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure while remaining within its scope as well.

Referring now to FIG. 17 , an embodiment of a method 1700 for providing data transmission visual indications via a direct-attach cable is illustrated. As discussed below, the systems and methods of the present disclosure provide a direct-attach cable connector on a direct-attach cable that includes one or more visual indicator devices that are visible when the direct-attach cable connector is coupled to a port, which allows the visual indicator device(s) to receive data transmission information via that port and provide corresponding visual indications of data transmission via that port. For example, the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure may include a networking device having a port, a direct-attach cable that includes a direct-attach cable connector that is located on an end of the direct-attach cable and that couples the direct-attach cable to the port, and a visual indicator device that is included on the direct-attach cable adjacent to and spaced apart from the direct-attach cable connector. The visual indicator device receives, from the networking device via the port and the direct-attach cable connector, data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port, and provides a visual indication that is based on the first data transmission information. As such, in situations where the networking device does not provide visual indicator device(s) adjacent its port, or when the visual indicator device(s) adjacent ports on the networking device are obscured by direct-attach cable(s) or other visual obstructions, a user will still be able to view the visual indications provided by the visual indicator device(s) on the direct-attach cable.

The method 1700 begins at block 1702 where a direct-attach cable is coupled to a networking device and connected device(s). As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the method 1700 utilizes a modified version of the networking device 300 discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B in which the four LEDs on each port system are replaced with a single LED (e.g., the four LEDs 402 a-402 d on the port system 308 a are replaced with a single LED 402, the four LEDs 406 a-406 d on the port system 308 b are replaced with a single LED 406, and so on for each port system 308 c, 308 d, 310 a, 310 b, 310 c, and 310 d) due to, for example, those port systems 308 a-308 d and 310 a-310 d not being configured to operate in a breakout mode. With reference to FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C, in an embodiment of block 1702, a direct-attach cable connector 1800 on a first direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 400 in the port system 308 a, a direct-attach cable connector 1802 on a second direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 404 in the port system 308 b, a direct-attach cable connector 1804 on a third direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 416 in the port system 310 a, and a direct-attach cable connector 1806 on a fourth direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 420 in the port system 310 b. As such, FIGS. 18B and 18C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1800 included on the first direct-attach cable connected to the port 400 in the port system 308 a, FIGS. 18B and 18C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1802 included on the second direct-attach cable connected to the port 404 in the port system 308 b, FIG. 18C illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1804 included on the third direct-attach cable connected to the port 416 on the port system 310 a, and FIG. 18C illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1806 included on the fourth direct-attach cable connected to the port 420 on the port system 310 b.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, FIG. 18C illustrates how the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1800/1802 included on the first and second direct-attach cables connect to the ports 400 and 404, respectively, on the ports systems 308 a and 308 b, respectively, in a first orientation, and how the direct-attach cable connectors 804/1804/1806 included on the third and fourth direct-attach cables connect to the ports 416 and 420, respectively, on the port systems 310 a and 310 b, respectively, in a second orientation that is inverted relative to the first orientation. However, while specific connection orientations are provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that a variety of direct-attach cable connector orientations will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Furthermore, FIG. 18C illustrates how the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the first, second, third, and fourth direct-attach cables may be routed in a manner that obscures at least a portion of the visual indicator devices included in the port systems 308 a, 308 b, 310 a, and 310 b (e.g., the LEDs 402, 406, and 418 in the illustrated example), while the visual indicator devices 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 of each of the direct-attach cables are visible. However, while a specific direct-attach cabling routing situation is illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that direct-attach cabling may be routed in a variety of manners that may obscure at least a portion of the visual indicator devices included in the port systems 308 a, 308 b, 310 a, and 310 b while the visual indicator devices 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 of each of the direct-attach cables are visible.

While not illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the direct-attach cable connector 1306 on each direct-attach cable 1300, 1400, of 1500, may then be connected to a connected device 204. However, in another example where the direct-attach cable 1600 is utilized at block 1702, one or more of the direct-attach cable connectors 1610, 1614, 1618, and 1622 may be connected to respective connected devices 204. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the coupling of the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 may be followed by a variety of connection/link establishment operations that allow for the transmission of data between the networking device and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables.

With reference to FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C, in an embodiment of block 1702, a direct-attach cable connector 1900 on a first direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 500 in the port system 308 a, a direct-attach cable connector 1902 on a second direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 502 in the port system 308 b, a direct-attach cable connector 1904 on a third direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 508 in the port system 310 a, and a direct-attach cable connector 1906 on a fourth direct-attach cable may be connected to the port 510 in the port system 310 b. As such, FIGS. 19B and 19C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1900 included on the first direct-attach cable connected to the port 500 on the port system 308 a, FIGS. 19B and 19C illustrate the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1902 included on the second direct-attach cable connected to the port 502 on the port system 308 b, FIG. 19C illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1904 included on the third direct-attach cable connected to the port 508 on the port system 310 a, and FIG. 19D illustrates the direct-attach cable connector 1304/1906 included on the fourth direct-attach cable connected to the port 510 on the port system 310 b.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, FIG. 19C illustrates how the direct-attach cable connectors 304/1900/1902 included on the first and second direct-attach cables connect to the ports 500 and 502, respectively, on the port systems 308 a and 308 b, respectively, in a first orientation, and how the direct-attach cable connectors 1304/1904/1906 included on the third and fourth direct-attach cables connect to the ports 508 and 510, respectively, on the ports systems 310 a and 310 b, respectively, in a second orientation that is inverted relative to the first orientation. However, while specific connection orientations are provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that a variety of direct-attach cable connector orientations will fall within the scope of the present disclosure as well. Furthermore, FIG. 19C illustrates how the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the first, second, third, and fourth direct-attach cables may be routed in a manner that leaves the visual indicator devices 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on each of the direct-attach cables visible. However, while a specific direct-attach cabling routing situation is illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that direct-attach cabling may be routed in a variety of manners that leave at least one of the visual indicator devices 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on each of the direct-attach cables visible.

While not illustrated, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the direct-attach cable connector 1306 on each direct-attach cable 1300, 1400, or 1500, may then be connected to a connected device 204. However, in another example where the direct-attach cable 1600 is utilized at block 1702, one or more of the direct-attach cable connectors 1610, 1614, 1618, and 1622 may be connected to respective connected devices 204. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, the coupling of the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 may be followed by a variety of connection/link establishment operations that allow for the transmission of data between the networking device and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables.

The method 1700 then proceeds to block 1704 where visual indicator device(s) on a direct-attach cabling on the direct-attach cable receives data transmission information from the networking device. In embodiments of block 1704 like those illustrated in FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C, the establishment of the links between the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables will result in the networking engine 304 in the networking devices 202/300 generating and transmitting data transmission information. For example, with reference back to FIG. 4B, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 434 may operate at block 1704 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 400 to the visual indicator device in the port system 308 a, which one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize is configured to cause the LED 402 in the port system 308 a to illuminate based on that data transmission information to provide a visual indication of that data transmission. In addition, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 436 may operate at block 1704 to generate and transmit that data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 400 through that port 400 and via the connected direct-attach cable connector 1304/1800 on the first direct-attach cable to its adjacent visual indicator device 1308. As such, the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the first direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 400.

Similarly, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 435 may operate at block 1704 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 404 to the visual indicator device in the port system 308 b, which one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize is configured to cause the LED 406 in the port system 308 b to illuminate based on that data transmission information to provide a visual indication of that data transmission. In addition, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 437 may operate at block 1704 to generate and transmit that data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 404 through that port 404 and via the connected direct-attach cable connector 804/1002 on the second direct-attach cable to its adjacent visual indicator device 1308. As such, the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the second direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 404.

While not described in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or registers may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the ports 416 and 420 to the visual indicator devices in the port systems 310 a and 310 b to cause the LEDs 418 in the port system 310 a and the LEDs 422 in the port system 310 b to illuminate based on that data transmission information to provide a visual indication of that data transmission, and the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or registers may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit that data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the ports 416 and 420 through those ports 416 and 420 via their connected direct-attach cable connectors 1304/1804/1806 on the third and fourth direct-attach cables to their respective adjacent visual indicator devices 1308. As such, the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the third direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 416, and the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the fourth direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 420.

Similarly, in embodiments of block 904 like those illustrated in FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C, the establishment of the links between the networking device 202 and the connected device(s) 204 via the direct-attach cables will result in the networking engine 304 in the networking devices 202/300 generating and transmitting data transmission information. For example, with reference back to FIG. 5B, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 520 may operate at block 1704 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 500 through that port 500 and via the connected direct-attach cable connector 1304/1900 on the first direct-attach cable to its adjacent visual indicator device 1308. As such, the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the first direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 500. Similarly as well, the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or the register 521 may operate at block 1704 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the port 502 through that port 502 and via the connected direct-attach cable connector 1304/1902 on the second direct-attach cable to its adjacent visual indicator device 1308. As such, the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the second direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 502.

While not described in detail, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will recognize how the networking processing system 430, the CPLD 432, and/or registers may operate at block 904 to generate and transmit data transmission information associated with the data transmission via the ports 508 and 510 through those ports 508 and 510 and via their connected direct-attach cable connectors 1304/1904/1906 on the third and fourth direct-attach cables to their adjacent visual indicator devices 1308. As such, the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the third direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 508, and the visual indicator device 1308 on the direct-attach cabling 1302 on the fourth direct-attach cable will receive that data transmission information via the port 510.

The method 1700 then proceeds to block 1706 where the visual indicator device(s) on the direct-attach cabling on the direct-attach cable provide a visual indication based on the data transmission information. With reference to FIG. 20 , in an embodiment of block 1706, any visual indicator device 1308 on a direct-attach cable that receives the data transmission information at block 1704 will operate to provide a visual indication 2000 based on that data transmission information. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, any of the visual indications provided by the visual indicator device 1308 may be provided in different colors (e.g., green, red, amber, blue, etc.) in order to indicate different data transmission information (e.g., port status information, port error information, etc.). For example, the visual indications provided by the visual indicator device 1308 may provide port status indications that may indicate that the connected port is operating at its maximum speed (e.g., 100 GbE) when those indications are green, may provide an indication that the connected port has negotiated to operate at a speed that is lower than its maximum speed when those indications are amber, and may provide an indication that the connected port is not operating when those indications are red. However, while a few examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that visual indications may be defined and provided in any manner while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

In a specific example, visual indications provided by the visual indicator device 1606 on the direct-attach cable 1600 may include indications that the connected port is transmitting data via one or more of the data transmission lanes/logical ports (e.g., to connected devices 206 connected to the direct-attach cable connectors 1610, 1614, 1618, and 1622 on the direct-attach cable 1600)) and not transmitting data via one or more data transmission lanes/logical ports. One of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate how this example illustrates how the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure supports “breakout” cable embodiments where a single physical port on the networking device provides four logical interfaces (e.g., at speeds of 4×10 GbE, 4×25 GbE, etc.). As such, the different visual indicators in the visual indicator device 1606 on the direct-attach cable 1600 may provide visual indicators of the use/status of logical ports that provide the “breakout” to the breakout portion 1608 of the direct-attach cable 1600, while the visual indicator devices 1612, 1616, 1620, and 1624 on the direct-attach cable 1600 may provide visual indicators of the use/status of the respective ports coupled to their adjacent direct-attach connectors 1610, 1614, 1618, and 1622, respectively. However, while a few examples have been provided, one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure will appreciate that visual indications may be defined and provided in any manner while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure as well.

Thus, systems and methods have been described that provide a direct-attach cable connector on a direct-attach cable that includes one or more visual indicator devices that are visible when the direct-attach cable connector is coupled to a port, which allows the visual indicator device(s) to receive data transmission information via that port and provide corresponding visual indications of data transmission via that port. For example, the direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system of the present disclosure may include a networking device having a port, a direct-attach cable that includes a direct-attach cable connector that is located on an end of the direct-attach cable and that couples the direct-attach cable to the port, and a visual indicator device that is included on direct-attach cabling adjacent to and spaced apart from the direct-attach cable connector. The visual indicator device receives, from the networking device via the port and the direct-attach cable connector, data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port, and provides a visual indication that is based on the first data transmission information. As such, in situations where the networking device does not provide visual indicator device(s) adjacent its port, or when the visual indicator device(s) adjacent ports on the networking device are obscured by direct-attach cable(s) or other visual obstructions, a user will still be able to view the visual indications provided by the visual indicator device(s) on the direct-attach cable.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A direct-attach cable data transmission visual indicator system, comprising: a networking device; a port that is included on the networking device; and a direct-attach cable that includes: a first direct-attach cable connector that is located on a first end of the direct-attach cable and that couples the direct-attach cable to the port; and a first visual indicator device on the direct-attach cable that is located adjacent to and spaced apart from the first direct-attach cable connector and that includes a first circumferential light emitting device that extends around the circumference of the direct-attach cable, wherein the first visual indicator device is configured to: receive, from the networking device via the port and the first direct-attach cable connector, first data transmission information that was generated by the networking device and that is associated with an availability of a port that is configured to provides for the transmission of data through the direct-attach cable when that port is not currently transmitting data; and provide a visual indication via light emitted by the first circumferential light emitting device about the circumference of the direct-attach cable that is based on the first data transmission information.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the direct-attach cable includes a breakout portion that couples the networking device to a plurality of connected devices.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the direct-attach cable includes: a respective second direct-attach cable connector located on each of a plurality of second ends of the direct-attach cable that are opposite the direct-attach cable from the first end and that are included in the breakout portion of the direct-attach cable, wherein each respective second direct-attach cable connector couples the direct-attached cable to a respective connected device included in the plurality of connected devices; and a respective second visual indicator device on the breakout portion of the direct-attach cable that is located adjacent to and spaced apart from each second direct-attach cable connector and that includes a respective second circumferential light emitting device that extends around the circumference of a respective sub-cable on the direct-attach cable that is included in the breakout portion, wherein each second visual indicator device is configured to: receive, from the respective connected device connected to that second direct-attach cable connector and via that second direct-attach cable connector, second data transmission information that was generated by that respective connected device and that is associated with the status of a link that provides for the transmission of data between that respective connected device and that second direct-attach cable connector and through the direct-attach cable; and provide a visual indication via light emitted by its respective circumferential light emitting device about the circumference of its respective sub-cable on the direct-attach cable that is included in the breakout portion that is based on the second data transmission information.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first circumferential light emitting device on the first visual indicator device is located between the first direct-attach cable connector and an initial bend portion of the direct attach cable.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the direct-attach cable is provided by one of: a passive Direct-Attach Copper (DAC) cable; an active DAC cable; or an Active Optical Cable (AOC).
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual indication is configured to indicate a status of the port.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the networking device includes a second visual indicator device that is located adjacent the port and that is configured to: receive, from the networking device, the data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port; and provide a visual indication that is based on the data transmission information.
 8. A direct-attach cable, comprising: a first direct-attach cable connector that is located on a first end of the direct-attach cable and that is configured to couple the direct-attach cable to a port on a networking device; and a first visual indicator device on the direct-attach cable that is located adjacent to and spaced apart from the first direct-attach cable connector and that includes a first circumferential light emitting device that extends around the circumference of the direct-attach cable, wherein the first visual indicator device is configured to: receive, from the networking device via the port and the first direct-attach cable connector when the first direct-attach cable connector is connected to the port on the networking device, first data transmission information that was generated by the networking device and that is associated with an availability of a port that is configured to provides for the transmission of data through the direct-attach cable when that port is not currently transmitting data; and provide a visual indication via light emitted by the first circumferential light emitting device about the circumference of the direct-attach cable that is based on the first data transmission information.
 9. The direct-attach cable of claim 8, wherein the direct-attach cable includes a breakout portion that is configured to couple the networking device to a plurality of connected devices when the first direct-attach cable connector is connected to the port on the networking device.
 10. The direct-attach cable of claim 8, further comprising: a respective second direct-attach cable connector located on each of a plurality of second ends of the direct-attach cable that are opposite the direct-attach cable from the first end and that are included in the breakout portion of the direct-attach cable, wherein each respective second direct-attach cable connector is configured to couples the direct-attached cable to a respective connected device included in the plurality of connected devices when the first direct-attach cable connector is connected to the port on the networking device; and a respective second visual indicator device on the breakout portion of the direct-attach cable that is located adjacent to and spaced apart from each second direct-attach cable connector and that includes a respective second circumferential light emitting device that extends around the circumference of a respective sub-cable on the direct-attach cable that is included in the breakout portion, wherein each second visual indicator device is configured to: receive, from the respective connected device connected to that second direct-attach cable connector and via that second direct-attach cable connector when that second direct-attach cable connector is connected to that respective connected device, second data transmission information that was generated by that respective connected device and that is associated with the status of a link that provides for the transmission of data between that respective connected device and that second direct-attach cable connector and through the direct-attach cable; and provide a visual indication via light emitted by its respective circumferential light emitting device about the circumference of its respective sub-cable on the direct-attach cable that is included in the breakout portion that is based on the second data transmission information.
 11. The direct-attach cable of claim 8, wherein the first circumferential light emitting device on the first visual indicator device is located between the first direct-attach cable connector and an initial bend portion of the direct attach cable.
 12. The direct-attach cable of claim 8, wherein the direct-attach cable is provided by one of: a passive Direct-Attach Copper (DAC) cable; an active DAC cable; or an Active Optical Cable (AOC).
 13. The direct-attach cable of claim 8, wherein the visual indication is configured to indicate a status of the port.
 14. A method for providing data transmission visual indications via a direct-attach cable, comprising: coupling, by a first direct-attach cable connector that is located on a first end of a direct-attach cable, to a port on a networking device; receiving, by a first visual indicator device on the direct-attach cable that is located adjacent to and spaced apart from the first direct-attach cable connector and from the networking device via the port and the first direct-attach cable connector, first data transmission information that was generated by the networking device and that is associated with an availability of a port that is configured to provides for the transmission of data through the direct-attach cable when the port is not currently transmitting data; and providing, by a first circumferential light emitting device that is included in the first visual indicator device and that extends around the circumference of the direct-attach cable, a visual indication via light emitted by the first circumferential light emitting device about the circumference of the direct-attach cable that is based on the first data transmission information.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the direct-attach cable includes a breakout portion having a plurality of second ends of the direct-attach cable that are opposite the direct-attach cable from the first end.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: coupling, by a respective second direct-attach cable connector located on each of the plurality of second ends of the direct-attach cable, to a respective connected device; receiving, by a respective second visual indicator device on the breakout portion of the direct-attach cable that is located adjacent to and spaced apart from each second direct-attach cable connector, second data transmission information that was generated by that respective connected device and that is associated with the status of a link that provides for the transmission of data between that second direct-attach cable connector and the respective connected device connected to that second direct-attach cable connector and through the direct-attach cable; and providing, by a respective second circumferential light emitting device that is included in each respective second visual indicator device and that extends around the circumference of a respective sub-cable on the direct-attach cable that is included in the breakout portion, a visual indication via light emitted by that respective circumferential light emitting device about the circumference of its respective sub-cable on the direct-attach cable that is included in the breakout portion that is based on the second data transmission information.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first circumferential light emitting device on the first visual indicator device is located between the first direct-attach cable connector and an initial bend portion of the direct attach cable.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the direct-attach cable is provided by one of: a passive Direct-Attach Copper (DAC) cable; an active DAC cable; or an Active Optical Cable (AOC).
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the visual indication is configured to indicate a status of the port.
 20. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving, from the networking device by a second visual indicator device that is included on the networking device and that is located adjacent the port, the data transmission information that is associated with the transmission of data via the port; and providing, by the second visual indicator device, a visual indication that is based on the data transmission information. 